Cowboys Free Agency: Could Signing Jets Sheldon Rankins Strengthen D-Line?
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Could the Dallas Cowboys be in the market to add some depth along their defensive line?
With the NFL year beginning on Wednesday, the Cowboys remain approximately $16 million over the salary cap. As expected, salary moves are about to begin in “Big D.”
Despite their $10.1 million franchise tag commitment to running back Tony Pollard, Dallas realizes that they will need to seek positional value while remaining fiscally responsible.
One such free agent which may provide both is New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins.
While the Cowboys enjoyed significant success both on offense and on defense in 2022, they could use an upgrade in production from the interior of their defensive line.
Left defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has a solid season, earning the distinction of being the team’s Most Improved Player. Odighizuwa collected 43 total tackles (eight, for loss), finishing the season with a missed-tackle percentage of only 2.3. He also doubled his sack total from two sacks (in 2021) to four sacks in 2022.
The combination of Jonathan Hankins and Neville Gallimore helped, at least before injuries took a toll, and yet ... The Cowboys ranked 22nd in rushing yards allowed.
Here is where Rankins might make a great deal of sense for the Cowboys.
According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Rankins earned a grade of 73.1 in 2022, the second-best of his career. The seven-year veteran logged 43 tackles (a career-high) along with three sacks and a forced fumble.
Rankins may be a "second-tier'' guy; this isn't Washington’s Daron Payne or Philly's Javon Hargrave. Therefore, his price tag may be much more palatable for the Cowboys in receiving the most bang for the buck.
In this scenario, the move makes even more sense.
With Hankins set for free agency, the Cowboys will be looking for a veteran presence on the inside to provide stability. Though Rankins would not be an elite addition to either the pass rush or run stoppage units, he would provide solid depth to both Odighizuwa and Gallimore, whom Dallas is reportedly unwilling to release.
Should the Cowboys find a cost-effective solution to their defensive problems on the interior, they might be in a position to build a more dominant preventive unit in 2023.
Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL.
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